Hemerocallis plant named ‘Calypso Queen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis named ‘Calypso Queen’ characterized by its gold-orange colored flowers with a red eye-zone which are borne on branched scapes. The flowers do not fade in warm, bright conditions and are resistant to water spotting. Plants of ‘Calypso Queen’ bloom very early in the season, and then repeatedly throughout the growing season. Plants of ‘Calypso Queen’ are evergreen, thus they are attractive in landscapes. The plant grows vigorously, and propagates easily by division or tissue culture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofHemerocallis plant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘Calypso Queen’. The genus Hemerocallis is a member of the familyLiliaceae.

Hemerocallis comprises a genus of approximately 15 species ofclump-forming, herbaceous perennials which are native to central Europe,China, and particularly, Japan. The flowers of Hemerocallis arelily-like and are borne in succession atop tall, frequently-branchedscapes. Individual flowers last one day; thus, Hemerocallis is commonlyknown as ‘Daylily’ in commercial trade.

In recent years, Hemerocallis has been extensively hybridized, and manycultivars exist. Hemerocallis hybrids are hardy spring- andsummer-blooming plants which are particularly well-adapted to landscapeplantings.

The plants form clumps of fan-shaped crowns of vertically-ranked,keeled, strap-like leaves. Plants (individual crowns) range in size fromapproximately 20 cm to over 90 cm in spread. Depending upon theparentage, Hemerocallis hybrids may be deciduous, evergreen orsemi-evergreen.

Hemerocallis hybrids come in a range of colors including orange, yellow,pink, reddish or purplish. The flowers are funnel-shaped or campanulatewith six segments joined at the base into a tube.

Asexual propagation of Hemerocallis is frequently done by division.Propagation can also be done through the use of tissue culturepractices.

The new cultivar ‘Calypso Queen’ is a product of a planned breedingprogram and was originated by the inventor, Matthew Kaskel, from a crossmade during such a program in Homestead, Fla. in April of 1996. The maleand female parents are proprietary Hemerocallis×hybrid unnamed seedlingselections designated by number codes which are maintained by theinventor and used for breeding purposes only. The selection comprisingthe new variety was chosen after commencement of flowering of theprogeny in April of 1997 and was originally identified by the numbercode #97-08. After more thorough commercial evaluation, the cultivar wasgiven the name ‘Calypso Queen’.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by tissue culture and divisonwas performed by the inventor in Homestead, Fla., and has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar ‘Calypso Queen’ are firmly fixed, reproduces true to type, andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Calypso Queen’ which is combinationdistinguish this Hemerocallis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers are bright gold-orange with a red eye-zone;

2. flowers do not fade in warm, bright conditions and are resistant towater spotting;

3. individual scapes are relatively short and branched with many budswhich open in succession for approximately 4 weeks. Subsequent scapesdevelop quickly after the initial scapes flower out;

4. spent flowers shrivel, become inconspicuous, drop from the scapequickly, and do not interfere with the opening of subsequent flowers;

5. plants begin blooming very early-season (March-April) and rebloomthroughout a 90-day blooming season;

6. plants grow vigorously and propagate readily by division and tissueculture; and

7. plants have narrow evergreen foliage making them attractive inlandscapes even when not in bloom.

The new cultivar is similar to its parent cultivar, however, ‘CalypsoQueen’ has more intense flower coloration, is more floriferous, andbegins blooming earlier in the season than either parent. Additionally,‘Calypso Queen’ grows more vigorously and is more prolific whenpropagated, than its parents. The flowers of ‘Calypso Queen’ are similarto those of ‘Southern Sparkle’ (co-pending U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 09/657,543), however the colors of ‘Calypso Queen’ areconsiderably more intense, the base color is near orange and the eyezone darker rosy red. Plants of ‘Calypso Queen’ are considerably morelikely to bloom and rebloom than ‘Southern Sparkle’.

‘Calypso Queen’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength and humidity, without any change in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographic illustrations show typicalcharacteristics of Hemerocallis ‘Calypso Queen’, with colors being asnearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 shows a 10-month-old plant of ‘Calypso Queen’ grown from tissueculture and flowering in a landscape setting.

Sheet 2 is a close-up view showing the characteristics of the flowersand scape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe 10 monthold plants derived from a tissue culture plantlet, grown in Sebring,Fla., under landscape conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary significance are used.

Classification:

Commercial.—Hemerocallis cv. ‘Calypso Queen’.

Genus/species.—Hemerocallis×hybrid.

Parentage:

Male parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Hemerocallis.

Female parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of Hemerocallis.

Propagation: Vegetative, by crown division.

Plant:

Form/growth habit.—Clump-forming; fan-shaped crowns of verticallyranked, opposite, smooth, keeled, ligulate leaves.

Height.—Approximately 46 cm to 50 cm including inflorescence.

Width.—Approximately 60 cm to 72 cm.

Foliage:

Size.—Mature leaves are approximately 42 cm to 50 cm and 1.7 cm to 2.2cm wide (flattened).

Shape.—The leaf blade is ligulate with an acute tip. The margins areentire. The leaves are curved over their length. The leaf is keeled andarches downward.

Surface texture.—The leaf blade is thin with a smooth surface.

Color.—The leaves are medium-green throughout. The upper surfaces aregreener than, but closest to, RHS 137 B, and lower surfaces are RHS 137C. The margins of the leaf bases may be flushed and striated with RHS184 D.

Average number.—The plant produces approximately 5 pairs of leavesbefore producing an inflorescence.

Dormancy.—Plants are evergreen and require no dormant period. If grownin appropriate conditions, plants are capable of growing year-round. Ifgrown in locations with freezing winter conditions, the existing foliagewill be cold-damaged, but the rhizome and roots will survive and resumeproducing new leaves with the arrival of warm spring weather.

Inflorescence:

Borne.—Flowers are borne in succession with new buds opening daily atopa 1- or 2-branched scape. Scapes may produce approximately 8-10 budswith each branch having 3-4 buds.

Shape.—Upright terminally branched determinant panicle bearing 8-10flowers which open daily in succession.

Buds.—Dimensions: Approximately 6.0 cm long and 1.95 cm wide. Color:Yellow-orange, RHS 22 C-RHS 22 D, striated with RHS 146 C and withgreen, RHS 146 A, sepal tips.

Individual flowers.—Dimension: The diameter of the flower isapproximately 9.7 cm to 10.2 cm (not flattened). The flower depth is 5.5to 6.0 cm. The sepals and petals are reflexed outward. The sepals areapproximately 7.65 cm long and 3.4 cm wide and are ovate in shape. Thepetals are approximately 7.0 cm long, 5.1 cm wide and are obovate inshape. Individual flower parts flattened for measurement. Shape:Funnel-form to campanulate; ovate or obovate and moderately reflexed.The three petals are slightly ruffled along the margins. The threesepals are slightly wavy along the margins. The petal and sepal apexshape is cuspidate. Color: Upper Surface: Sepals are yellow-orange, RHS21 A-RHS 21 C, with RHS 169 B eye zone. Base of sepal is RHS 146 D.Petals are yellow-orange, RHS 21 A-RHS 21 C, with redder than, butclosest to RHS 178 B eye zone. Base of petal (throat) is RHS 146 D.Lower Surface: Sepals are entirely yellow-orange, RHS 21 A-RHS 21 C.Base of sepal is RHS 146 D and tip of sepal is RHS 146 A. Petals areentirely yellow-orange, RHS 21 A-RHS 21 C. Base of petals is flushedwith RHS 146 D. Texture: Moderately thick and leathery. Quantity:Approximately 8-10 flowers/buds present depending on the size of plantand inflorescence. Branch spikes contain approximately 3 to 4flowers/buds.

Senescent flower.—Spent flowers collapse and shrivel, becominginconspicuous and eventually falling from the scape in 1 or 2 days.

Scape.—The scape is approximately 46 cm to 50 cm in height, 6 mm indiameter when measured at midpoint, and darker than, but closest to, RHS137 A in color.

Bracts.—Small leaf-like bracts are present at the junctions of thebranches and the scape and also the flower buds and the scape. Thebracts are variable in size, 5 cm to 10 cm long, and are RHS 137 A incolor, both upper and lower surfaces.

Time of blooming.—In mature plants, flowering begins approximately earlyseason (March 15 as observed in Sebring, Fla.).

Duration of blooms.—Individual flowers last 1 day, and the totalduration of flowering is about 90 days with subsequent scapes appearingthrough out the growing season.

Fragrance.—Sweetly fragrant.

Reproductive organs:

Ovary.—Superior, oblong, 8 mm long and 4 mm wide, RHS 146 B-RHS 146 C.

Pistil.—1 per flower, 9.4 cm long, style 2.0 mm wide; RHS 22 C .

Stamens.—Six present, filament is flat, curved, and 4.8 cm long and 2 mmwide, RHS 23 A-RHS 23 C.

Anthers.—8 mm long, brown-black in color.

Pollen.—RHS 21 A.

Seed characteristics: Capable of producing viable see, 3 to 6 shinyblack seeds per chamber, 4 mm to 5 mm, mostly round, often oblong,variably shaped.

Fruit characteristics: 3 valved, loculicidal capsule, 2.3 cm wide and2.9 cm long, color RHS 146 B, becoming tinged with yellow, RHS 19 C whenripe.

Roots: Thick, fleshy, white roots with fine laterals.

Cultural:

USDA zone.—Grows and blooms best when grown in USDA Zones 6 to 11.

Diseases/pests.—No particular sensitivity to pests or diseases. Aphidsmay occasionally infest the plants during the winter months.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis plant named‘Calypso Queen’ as illustrated and described.